Shri Ram Prashnavali
Seek divine guidance from Shri Ramcharitmanas
Shri Hanuman Prashnavali
Find solutions with Lord Hanuman's grace
Shri Sai Prashnavali
Life guidance with Sai Baba's blessings
Shri Shiv Prashnavali
The Rudrashtakam from Shri Ramcharitmanas: eight verses and the closing verse
Shri Ganesh Prashnavali
Twelve names of Ganesha for anything you are about to begin
Shri Durga Prashnavali
The nine forms of Navadurga, each with her verse
Shri Khatu Shyam Prashnavali
Eleven names of Shyam Baba, the refuge of the defeated
What Is a Prashnavali?
A prashnavali (प्रश्नावली) is a traditional Hindu way of seeking guidance on a question. The seeker prays, holds one question in mind, and chooses a letter or a number from a sacred chart without looking for a particular one. The chart leads to a verse or a saying, and the devotee reads it as the answer. The best known is the Ram Shalaka Prashnavali, built from nine chaupais of Shri Ramcharitmanas by Goswami Tulsidas and printed in many editions of the book. Other prashnavalis follow the same idea with other deities and texts.
Prashnavali Online with Answers on This Site
- Ram Shalaka Prashnavali: a chart of 225 letters. The letter you choose leads to one of nine chaupais of Ramcharitmanas, shown with its source, its meaning and whether the answer is favourable.
- Hanuman Prashnavali: a chakra of 49 numbers from Hanuman Jyotish. Each number has a verse and a message with a clear yes or no.
- Sai Baba Prashnavali: 720 numbered answers for devotees of Shirdi Sai Baba. Choose any number from 1 to 720.
- Shiv Prashnavali: a chart of 36 numbers leading to one of the eight verses of Tulsidas's Rudrashtakam or its closing verse, with its meaning and a clear answer.
- Ganesh Prashnavali: 36 numbers leading to one of the twelve names of Ganesha from the Sankat Nashan Ganesh Stotra. Ask here before a new beginning.
- Durga Prashnavali: 36 numbers leading to the verse of one of the nine forms of Navadurga.
- Khatu Shyam Prashnavali: 44 numbers leading to one of eleven names of Shyam Baba, each with its story and answer.
To read the texts behind the new prashnavalis: the Rudrashtakam with meaning, the Sankat Nashan Ganesh Stotra with meaning, the nine forms of Navadurga with their mantras, and the story of Khatu Shyam Ji and the names of Shyam Baba.
All seven are free, need no login, and work on any phone. The Today's Guidance page gives one reading a day, and the Naam Jaap Counter is a digital mala of 108.
How to Ask a Prashnavali
- Sit quietly, pray to the deity, and keep one clear question in mind.
- Ask about one matter at a time, in a form that a yes, a no or a short guidance can answer.
- Choose a letter or a number as you feel drawn, without searching for a particular one.
- Read the answer with faith and reflect on it. Do not ask the same question again on the same day.
Which Prashnavali Is Most Powerful?
No prashnavali is more powerful than another. Devotees traditionally use the prashnavali of their ishta deva, the deity they worship most. The Ram Shalaka Prashnavali is the oldest and most widely used, because it comes from Ramcharitmanas itself. The Hanuman Prashnavali is preferred when a plain yes or no is wanted. Devotees of Shirdi Sai Baba use the Sai Baba Prashnavali. Those who worship Shiva, Ganesha, Durga or Khatu Shyam Ji now have their own on this site as well, each built on a text or a tradition of that deity. Whichever you choose, the sincerity of the question matters more than the chart.
Rules of Prashnavali
- Ask with faith, not for entertainment.
- One question at a time, and no more than three questions in a day.
- Do not repeat a question because you did not like the answer.
- Treat the answer as guidance for reflection. For important decisions, also use your own judgment.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is the prashnavali free to use online?
Yes. Every prashnavali on this site is free, with no sign-up and no login.
Can I use the prashnavali in Hindi?
Yes. The Ram Shalaka, Hanuman, Shiv, Ganesh, Durga and Khatu Shyam prashnavalis have full Hindi pages, and the chaupais and verses are in Hindi everywhere. Your phone's browser can translate the other pages.
Does the prashnavali give yes or no answers?
The Hanuman Prashnavali gives a clear yes or no with each message. The Ram Shalaka Prashnavali tells you whether the matter is favourable, and the Sai Baba Prashnavali gives a short guidance.
Which is the original prashnavali?
The Ram Shalaka Prashnavali is the original one in print. It appears in editions of Shri Ramcharitmanas, and its nine chaupais are taken from the text.
Are prashnavali answers true?
A prashnavali is a devotional practice. Devotees read the answers with faith and find guidance in them. They are not a guarantee of any outcome.
How many times a day can I ask?
Ask each question once. The traditional guidance is no more than three questions in a day.